Damien Kayat previews selected men's and women's quarter-finals from the 2021 US Open.
2021 WTA and ATP Tour
Grand Slam Tennis
US Open Tennis
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre
Selected Quarterfinals- 8th September
Barbora Krejcikova 27/20 | Aryna Sabalenka 56/100
I was a tad dismissive of Aryna Sabalenka prior to the US Open. But the Belarusian has looked immense since a minor hiccup in her opening match. She hasn’t dropped more than six games in any of her last four matches. Those include victories over powerful players such as Danielle Collins and Elise Mertens. Her all-or-nothing approach was on full display in her 4th round win against doubles partner Elise Mertens. She fired 22 winners and won 76% of her first-serve points. Barbora Krejcikova’s progress through this event has been equally serene (though perhaps not quite as explosive). In fact, she is yet to drop a set in this year’s event. This included a straight-sets victory over the fancied Garbine Muguruza. Her emergence from the doubles ghetto has been one of the season highlights, culminating in a sensational Roland Garros title.
Verdict: Krejcikova to win at 27/20- Sabalenka won their only encounter in Linz last season in three pulsating sets. Sabalenka clearly has the power to dominate from the back of the court. But I’m a huge fan of the way the Czech utilizes variety. She may be able to move Sabalenka into uncomfortable spots. Sabalenka also served a whopping ten double faults in her 4th round match. Krejcikova is a brilliant returner who will pounce on anything loose.
Emma Radacanu 12/10 | Belinda Bencic 63/100
Emma Radacanu has certainly become the new ‘it girl’ of women’s tennis. She stands at the vanguard of a new breed of tennis star that has blossomed at this year’s US Open. Three teenagers will be lining up in this year’s US Open quarterfinals (the other two being Carlos Alcaraz and Leylah Fernandez). She has only dropped a staggering 15 games in her four matches thus far, absolutely blitzing Shelby Rogers 6-2, 6-1 in the final round. But in Belinda Bencic she will be meeting an immense competitor. The Olympic gold medallist will be looking to match her career-best Slam performance by reaching this year’s semi-finals (she reached the semi-finals here in 2019). She is fresh off a nail-biting victory over Iga Swiatek (which was actually sweet revenge for Bencic following Roland Garros). She saved four set points in a marathon opening set tiebreak that almost defied belief: it was the longest tiebreak at this year’s US Open in terms of points played. Switching from that entertaining rally-fest to the Opelka-Harris ‘servathon’ was rather depressing.
Verdict: Bencic to win at 63/100- I think that this may be the end of Radacanu’s fairy-tale run. I could not believe how well Bencic absorbed those bombs that Swiatek threw down at her. Sure, the Pole did lead to her own demise with some unforced errors. But nonetheless, Bencic matched Swiatek from the back of the court in a bruising encounter. The Swiatek victory should also prepare Bencic for the potential atmosphere of this clash (like Radacanu, Swiatek is a huge crowd favourite at present). But it will be tight. For a bit more value, take Benic to win in three sets at 33/10
Felix Auger-Aliassime 9/20 | Carlos Alcaraz Garfia 17/10
Carlos Alcaraz Garfia has just become the youngest Major men’s singles quarterfinalist since Michael Chang at the 1990 French Open. Stefanos Tsitsipas said that he had never experienced power like Alcaraz following their epic 3rd round five-set match. The 18-year-old had to claw his way from two sets to one down against Peter Gojowczyk. This is just the culmination of an incredible breakthrough year for the Spaniard. He won his maiden ATP title in July and also reached the semi-finals in Winston-Salem. Long touted as the next great thing in men’s tennis, Felix Auger Aliassime will understand the gravity of this encounter. This is his time to stamp his authority over a younger player. Aliassime seems to have developed physically since teaming up with Toni Nadal (this is now his 2nd consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal following Wimbledon earlier this year).
Verdict: Auger-Aliassime to win at 9/20– Both of these players have spent significant time on court this week. I just think that 18-year-old Alcaraz may be starting to feel the effect of all those long matches. Auger-Aliassime will also pick up more free points on his serve. But the Canadian has to show the world why so many have rated him as the potential successor to the ‘Big Three’. Again, if you want a bit more value I’d recommend taking Auger-Aliassime to win in four sets at 28/10
Alex Zverev 1/6 | Llyod Harris 4/1
You have to hand it to Harris. For a while there I didn’t think anyone could withstand the serving colossus that is Reily Opelka. But the South African showed nerves of steel in their 4th round match, breaking the American on six occasions. But perhaps the most amazing stat of that match was Harris’ personal ace haul of 36. He will next face Olympic Gold medallist Alex Zverev. As I noted in the preview to their Cincinnati clash, these two could almost be doppelgangers at a glance. Last year’s US Open finalist Zverev looks like he has a point to prove in New York this week. He is currently on a mammoth 15-match win-streak following Olympic gold and that victory in Cincinnati.
Verdict: Zverev to win in straight sets at 96/100- This is just an entirely different test for South African Harris. In many senses, Zverev is the alpha version of Harris. Harris could easily outmanoeuvre Opelka from the back of the court. But Zverev has physically improved and looks the real deal at present.
